Russia frees 2 former Gitmo prisoners

KAZAN, Russia, Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Two men from Tatarstan who had been held at the U.S. detention center in Guantanamo have been released from prison.

Interfax news service reported that officials say investigators have found no reason to continue to incarcerate Airat Bakhitov and Rustam Akhmyarov at a temporary detention center in Naberezhny Chelny.

In a news release, Bakhitov was quoted as thanking Amnesty International campaign for his release.

"We're simply in shock," he said, "thank you for your understanding of our situation."

The two men were among seven Russian nationals picked up in Afghanistan and sent to Guantanamo. They were transferred to Russia last year.

Bakhitov and Akhmyarov were detained in Moscow in late August on suspicion of planning to carry out terrorist activities in Tatarstan and then transferred to Tatarstan. Mosnews reports Bakhitov had been heavily involved in efforts to support Guantanamo prisoners since his initial release.